Winter Tips to Managing Home Humidity

Experts have declared that to have a healthy and comfortable environment in your home, the relative indoor humidity should be within the range of 40 to 60 percent. Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor that is in the air at a certain temperature.

During the winter, the air’s ability to hold water decreases making the air in your home feel dry. Relative humidity is important because the level of humidity can have an impact on your health, comfort and cost for heating your home in the winter.

If humidity levels are too high, conditions begin to favor mold and bacteria growth. You may start experiencing nasal stuffiness and an overall discomfort. If the humidity levels are too low, you may start developing dry and itchy skin. The dry air can irritate the mucous membranes of your nose making you more susceptible to colds and infections. The wood and paint in your home can even begin to dry out.

So, there are a few ways to help maintain the ideal relative humidity in your home this winter. Some you can do yourself and others you may want to seek out the help of a professional.

Single Room Humidifier

Room humidifiers are freestanding and don’t require any kind of installation other than plugging it into an electrical outlet. They are limited in their range but can deliver humidity right where you need it. Room humidifiers have a variety of methods to generate humidity: evaporation, vaporization, and ultrasonic vibration.

Whole Home Humidifier

Here is where the professionals like Bradley Mechanical come in. A whole home humidifier is attached directly to the air ducts in your home’s HVAC system. It monitors the indoor humidity by measuring the moisture in the air return duct can automatically adjust its output. Whole home humidifiers require little maintenance, are energy efficient and extremely quiet.

Get Houseplants

Plants continuously release moisture in the form of vapor from their leaves and stems. As long as you keep them watered (we hear talking and singing to them sometimes helps too), they will continue to help regulate humidity levels in the home.

Cook More

Cooking on the stovetop (especially with boiling water) will release moisture into the air. Pasta, anyone?

Repurpose Candle Warmers

If you have an electric candle warmer that doesn’t get much use anymore, place a glass vase or cup on it filled with water. Just be sure to monitor it and don’t let the glass run dry.

Water Bowl on Registers

Place a metal or ceramic bowl on top of a floor register. The heat should evaporate the water into the air in about a week. That’s if your pets don’t drink it first.

Bradley Mechanical can help you with your air quality and comfort needs. We have been keeping homeowners in Central Richmond breathing easy for over 50 years. When it comes to the health and comfort of the air in your home, we are the experts. Give us a call today at (804) 748-6728 to learn more about our products and services to help your air quality.